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The idea was born out of the success of neighbouring air shows at
Margate and Eastbourne, which have proven to give a great boost to the
local economy from tourism and business investment.
The organisers say that with Folkestone now regarded as the place to
visit and recently voted in the top ten UK destinations by the motoring and leisure association CSMA, the
time seems ripe for the Folkestone Air Show to return.
"Final plans have yet to be ratified and much work needs to be done.
However, the idea has wings and it looks like we will see the first air
show for 9 years, with first events taking place in 2012 around the
time of the 2012 Jubilee Celebrations," they say.
"It is planned to build on the success of the 2012 event to enable a
full air show to be mounted in 2013, which will be every bit as good and
comparable to similar shows in the southeast. A lot of research has been
done and still needs to be done to ensure its success so that it will
become an annual event, worthy of the tens of thousands of visitors
expected to attend," say organisers.
They stress that no council funding from tax payers will be made, with
the final cost to be met purely from sponsorship, local business
involvement and donations. However, they have confirmed that both the
2012 and 2013 events have the full support of Shepway Council who will
work with the event teams to ensure these events go ahead smoothly and
successfully.
Further information on the 2012 Jubilee Event can be obtained from John
Barber at Folkestone Town Centre Management. email:
ftcmanager@gmail.com [4]
Planning for the proposed 2013 event is reported to be at an advanced
stage and those wanting to be involved either corporately or with
individual sponsorship are invited to indicate their interest and when
ready, will be sent a sponsorship pack.
The organisers have decided the theme of the 2013 Folkestone and Shepway
Air Festival will be ‘Reach For The Sky’, which they say, "
invokes memories of the role this region played in the Battle of
Britain, as well as demonstrating the huge opportunities for business to
invest in this emerging region."
The plans for 2013 Air Festival include business conventions, art
exhibitions and entertainment, culminating in a weekend of ground events
and air displays from the top RAF and private display teams.
Enquiries for the 2013 air show can initially be made to Cllr Jan Holben
email: janet.holben@shepway.gov.uk [5]
A Folkestone and Shepway Air Festivals website, which will have
information and posters for download, is being planned.
Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2011©
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